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Swedish Wood Award

The Swedish Wood Award (Sw: Träpriset) is one of Sweden’s biggest and most important architectural competitions, presented every four years to a building that represents good architecture in wood and that reflects the times we live in. The winner of the Swedish Wood Award 2016 was the 12th winner since 1967. The Swedish Wood Award is awarded by Swedish Wood. Previous winners include the architects Gert Wingårdh, Jan Gezelius and Carl Nyrén.

Entries are submitted to a jury, which then draws up a shortlist of nominees for the Swedish Wood Award. The list of nominated buildings is published in the magazine Trä before the jury finally picks out the winning design. Ahead of each Swedish Wood Award, the nominees are presented in the book “Architecture in Wood” with photos, drawings and descriptions.

The aim is to continue developing the prize so that wood construction and wooden architecture gain even more attention.

History of the Swedish Wood Award

The Swedish Wood Award was set up by Träinformation, as the industry body was once known, and was first awarded in 1967.

Initially the prize was awarded to the originator of a building or a wooden structure.

From the Swedish Wood Award 1988, the rules were changed so that the award would be given to the building. The current rules state that:

The Swedish Wood Award is an architectural prize awarded by Swedish Wood. It is a prize for good architecture in wood that reflects the times we live in. It is awarded to a completed new building, bridge or other structure in Sweden, where wood has been used to attain particular architectural qualities in combination with other materials and with a structural design or system solution that exemplifies the right way to use and treat wood.

The Swedish name for the prize, Träpriset, is registered as a trademark with the Swedish Patent and Registration Office.

Swedish Wood’s aim is to increase the size and value of the market for Swedish wood and wood products in construction, interior design and packaging. Through inspiration, information and education, we promote wood as a competitive, renewable, versatile and natural material.
Swedish Wood represents the Swedish sawmill industry and is part of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation.